Umbrella.



0. A. HODINGER.

UMBRBLLA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co.. wAsnlNGroN. D. c.

OTTO A. HODINGER, OF O'NEIDA, NEW YORK.

UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June 29, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912. Serial N o. 635,944.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTo A. HODINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oneida, in the county of Madison and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in umbrellas.

One object of the invention is to provide an umbrella or parasol having an improved means for detachably connecting the ribsl and braces to the rod whereby any of the ribs may be readily removed and replaced without disturbing the o-thers.

Another object is to provide a rib attaching device which will be simple, strong, durable in construction eiicient and reliable in operation and well adapted tothe purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of an umbrella rod and a portion of the ribs and braces showing the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the upper end of the rod and the rib attaching device; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side view of the parts of the top Inotch or rib attaching device removed from the rod and separated; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the rod of my improved umbrella, said rod being of the usual or any desired construction and having on its inner end any suitable form of handle 2. Secured to the rod near its outer end is a ferrule 3 which is fastened in position on the rod 1 by a transversel pin 4 inserted therethrough and through the rod. On the inner end of the ferrule is formed a stop flange or bead 5. Secured to said ferrule as by a through pin 4 is the conical-shaped head of the top notch 6 to which the inner ends of the ribs 14 are to be attached, said head having a surrounding iange 7 which depends from its outer edge and kthen turns inward as best seen in the sectional views, Figs. 2` and 3, and this flange is provided with notches 8 usually about seven in number and of a size to receive the inner ends of the ribs. Below said head and between it and the bead 5 there is revolubly mounted upon the ferrule 3 a collar k10 having near its upper end an annular shoulder 9 whose outer edge coacts with the inner edge of the flange 7 so as to produce an annular space above this shoulder and within the flange for the heads 15 of the ribs 14, these being usually seven in number. In the outer face of said collar at one point is formed an upright notch 11 which cuts completelyA through the shoulder 9 as seen in Fig. 4, and the size of this notch issuch that the head 15 of any rib 14 may be dropped downward through it when the shank of the rib passes downward through the notch 8 in the flange 7. Out into the outer face of said collar 10 at another point,

is an upright groove 12; and secured in the lower end of saidgroove as by arivet 130 is a spring 13 whose upper end or head forms a detent 131 of a size and shape to ill the space within the flange 7. VThis groove 12 cuts completely through the shoulder 9 as seen at the right of Fig. 3, and the spring 13 in its normal position curves outward so that the detent 131 is driven radially outward beneath the flange 7; and the size of this detent (see Fig. 5) is such that in this position it stands between two of the heads 15 at the inner ends of two contiguous ribs 14 and spaces them apart. Their shanks at this time lying within the notches 8, the

presence of the detent 131 holds all parts in the relative position illustratedin Fig. 5, and hence it is impossible for the notch 11 to be brought opposite any of the heads 15 Vso long as the detent remains as shown.

In operation, when it is desired to remove a rib, the umbre-lla is opened part way and the operator places his thumb upon the spring 13 and bears it inward; this moves the detent 131 out from its position under the flange 7 and presses it deep into the groove 12, thereby freeing the collar 10 for movement; neXt this collar is turned until the notch 11 is brought opposite the head 15 of that rib 14 which is to be removed,

when the latter is dropped downward out ofthe notch 8 which its shank engages, and repaired or replaced by a new one. In the insertion of the latter the operation just described is reversed; and after the parts are brought to rest as seen in Fig. 5 the detent 131 again locks the revoluble collar 10 in such position relative to the head G that the notch 11 stands between the heads 15 of two of the ribs and the latter cannot become accidentally displaced.

Slidably engaged with the rod 1 is a sleeve or runner 16 to which is secured a brace attaching mechanism 17 comprising a notched member or head 18 and a locking member or revoluble collar 19. These members 18 and 19 are constructed and arranged in the same manner as the top notch or rib attaching mechanism to provide for the detachable connection of the inner ends of the braces 2O and a further description of said brace attaching mechanism is not thought to be necessary.

By constructing and arranging the rib and brace attaching device as herein shown and described it will be seen that any of the ribs may be quickly and easily removed and replaced by an inexperienced person withoiot interfering in any manner with the other r1 s.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction inay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An umbrella runner having a notched flange, and ribs passing through said notches and having heads fitting within said flange; combined with a collar revoluble on the runner and closing said notches and itself having a notch at one point for the purpose set forth, a spring carried by the collar, and a detent carried by the spring and standing normally between two of said heads.

2. In an umbrella, the combination with a sleeve or ferrule, a head secured to the same and having a depending iange turned inward at its lower edge and notched, and the ribs having heads at their inner ends; of a collar fitting revolubly on said ferrule beneath said head and having a surrounding shoulder contacting with the inner edge of said flange, the whole being provided withan upright notch and an upright groove, a spring secured at its lower end within the groove and having a curved body outstanding beyond the collar, and a. detent carried by the upper end of the spring and of a size to be pressed thereby radially outward beneath said flange an'd there to t annularly between two of the rib-heads, the position of the groove and notch with respect to each other being such that when the detent stands between two of the ribheads, none of the latter will register with the notch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO A. HODINGER. Titnesses VILLIAM I-I. RATNOUR, G. COLE. OLcoT'r.

Copies o1.' this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

